A long weekend in Quintana Roo
Yes, you can visit Riviera Maya, Tulum and Coba in just three days. Do it all: the cenotes, the spas, the beaches, the cafes, and, most importantly, the relaxing.
I love a whirlwind trip. And I love Mexico. I am one of those girls who will tell you Cancun is not for me and Tulum is more touristy than it was when I first went. But if you do a little digging (and keep on reading) you’re sure to have the most amazing time. Read on for some recommendations based on a trip I took last August to Riviera Maya, Tulum and Coba (fly into Cancun and take a shuttle to your first hotel destination).
Riviera Maya
Stay at Unico Hotel Riviera Maya, an hour taxi or shuttle ride from the Cancun airport. I was there right after a hurricane when the ATMs weren’t even working and I still really enjoyed my stay.
What I loved: The welcome drink, the robes and slippers, the bathtub on my balcony. The pools, the hot tub, walks on the beach. All the trees around the property. Falling asleep to the sound of the ocean. Room service. Tequila. On-site covid tests and the bakery cafe. My advice to you is to stay here a couple nights and decompress. Take advantage of the fitness classes like yoga and spinning (with water bikes in the pool). Take your meals with a grain of salt, knowing that at an all-inclusive the food is never really the star of the show. I will say I’ve stayed at a handful — or more — of all inclusive hotels over the years, mostly for work. This was, by far, one of my favorites.
When you’re ready for a mind-blowing meal, book a car and head to the next town.
Tulum
Yes, it’s overrated. And expensive. Prices have gone up astronomically the past few years. But do it anyway. You’ll still have an amazing, memorable time.
I wrote this piece for TravelPulse a few years back highlighting my first trip to Tulum and all the things I loved about it. Hotel Tiki Tiki is still my pick for hotels; it’s not on the beach, but it’s the most gorgeous property in Tulum town just 10 minutes from the ocean by car or bike. Burrito Amor, La Zebra, Papaya Playa Project are great options for food/drinks although Papaya gets even more expensive at night/on weekends. Hopefully Tulum Art Club still has that same local feel I couldn’t get enough of. Sanara is a beautiful hotel on the beach with a restaurant overlooking the ocean. If you want to move your body, sign up for a yoga class there. The yoga studio is in a glass space also overlooking the beach and it’s priced about the same as any drop-in class you’d take in the US.
Do not go to the theme park cenotes people will recommend. Find something small and off the beaten path and I promise you won’t be disappointed. I visited Cenote Calavera and had the best time, but haven’t really liked any of the others.
Coba
Love, love, loved it here. Granted I did not get to stay nearly as long as I wanted. Cash is king in Coba and knowing some basic Maya words will help, too. Our driver throughout the trip spoke Spanish and a little English and gave us some background on the city. The village is about 40 minutes from Tulum by car. There are little restaurants and markets all along the side of the road where you can get artisanal home decor and bags made of straw, pottery and more.
You’ll find the perfect escape at Coqui Coqui, a perfumery and hotel on a lagoon inspired by the Maya ruins, tucked away at the end of a dirt road. Book ahead if you plan to stay here because it is an intimate property with limited rooms. If a day trip is more your thing, book a day pass which gives you access to the pool starting at 12pm. If you decide to book a spa service (highly recommend), this will give you free access to the pool as well. For your massage, you get to choose an oil from the perfumeries 15 or so scents — I love the coco, the flor de mayo, the rosas frescos and the flor de naranjo.
Arrive a few hours early and bask in the sunshine — even if you get rained on like I did, it feels like a truly religious experience. Come hungry because the food menu is fantastic. I loved the tacos and sopa de pollo as well as all the cocktails and fresh juices. 10/10 honestly and can’t wait to visit the hotel’s other properties in places like Valladolid, Merida and (!!!) Bora Bora.
If you need a taxi for the duration of your trip, this man was amazing (see pic below). His prices were affordable and he not only took us everywhere we wanted to go, but also shared stories about each town (and waited for us, for hours sometimes, to take us from one place to the next).